C3 T-Top Restoration - T-Time

Hard-Core Topless Tech For Our '71 Stingray

As far as automotive roofing goes, manufacturers have tried just about everything to appeal to drivers who want the wind in their hair (or what's left of it). Removable hard tops, sunroofs, moonroofs, retractable hard tops, convertible tops, targa tops, and T-tops have adorned many famous-and some infamous-examples of historical automobiles, the Corvette included. But which style is the best way to feel the breeze while not sacrificing the car's usefulness and convenience?

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True topless aficionados will say that the only way to really enjoy your car is if it has no top at all. You see these drivers in their Cobras, first-generation Vipers, and removable-hardtop convertible Corvettes, sometimes wearing scarves, goggles, and fingerless driving gloves, and often stealing nervous glances at the sky to check for rain. While we do appreciate the visceral, bugs-in-your-teeth manliness of this type of motoring, we don't necessarily want to plan our trips based on the availability of carwashes and bank drive-throughs to duck into in the event of inclement weather.

There are other drawbacks to going the fully topless route. Convertible soft tops are flimsy and thin, admitting lots of wind noise even when the top and windows are up. They're also prone to leak and wear, typically requiring replacement every 3-5 years. Third, these tops don't offer any structural support for high-horsepower applications, or protection in the event of a rollover accident. And finally, a retractable soft top takes up precious cargo space whether up or down.

Don't get the idea that we're completely averse to convertibles-we're not. We just feel that a T-top configuration offers most of the benefits of an open-air driving experience in a much more user-friendly package. It seems the public has historically agreed: Starting in 1968, Corvette T-top coupes outsold convertibles nearly two to one during years when both models were available.

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One of the downsides of a T-top roof, however, is that many of its mechanical components-such as latches, guide pins, plates, and bushings-are prone to wear or break. Weatherstripping also tends to dry-rot, crack, and come apart, while trim, paint, and chrome can also become damaged or deteriorate over time. Project C3 Triple-Ex's T-tops were suffering from many of these afflictions, so we decided to rebuild them with new parts from Corvette Central.

Once we disassembled our T-tops, we found that they were largely intact but worn and out of adjustment. The weatherstripping and molding had also deteriorated, causing the T-tops to leak and not align correctly. Also, the original stainless-steel trim on our T-tops had become weathered and dinged over the years, causing it to look exceptionally bad next to the fresh paint we recently applied. Fortunately, Corvette Central carries all the parts necessary to repair the T-tops in early or later C3 models. We found everything we needed in the company's catalog, including new weatherstripping, moldings, periphery trim, and headliner panels. We also ordered a new T-top center panel, along with the parts kit necessary to repair our latches.

It took us the better part of a day to disassemble, repair, and reassemble our T-tops, but when we took the car for a drive, we couldn't believe the difference. The panels snapped into place correctly, and the new seals offered a weather-tight fit. Aesthetically, the car now looks much better with its new headliner, center panels, and stainless trim. We immediately noticed that it was quieter as well, thanks to the new weatherstripping seals and the fact that the door glass was actually sealing at the top. Now we can go topless or not, with equal satisfaction!

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C3 T-Top Restoration - T-Time

While the convertible top was a popular option on early Corvettes, the majority of C3 Stingrays were coupes that came equipped with removable T-tops. This month we'll show you how to restore yours for functional good looks.

The first step to working on T-tops is to remove them from the vehicle. Don't worry too much about alignment problems at this stage; new weatherstripping may take care of the issue.

Once the tops are removed, you'll need a place to work on them. We found that a pair of sawhorses and a piece of plywood covered with a soft quilt worked well.

Most T-tops on cars this old will have damage, either cosmetic or mechanical.

The only way to find out what parts you'll need in order to repair your T-tops is to completely disassemble and inspect them.

There are only a couple of Phillips-head screws holding the headliner panel to the T-tops, and several of those Velcro pads GM liked to use. Removing the headliner pad will reveal the mechanical parts of the T-tops.

The weatherstripping is held on with plastic clips and glue, and usually comes off in pieces. Don't worry about breaking the clips; the new pieces will have fresh clips on them.

Using a drill, remove the heads of the rivets holding the side molding in place and take the trim off of the T-tops. Be sure the metal shavings don't fall between the painted side of the top and the quilt, as they could scratch the finish.

T-top latches are easy to remove by simply taking the bolts out, allowing you to inspect them for wear. Ours were in pretty good shape, so we elected to reuse them.

The periphery molding can be gently pried from the underside with a small screwdriver, then tapped with a plastic or rubber mallet. These pieces should come right off with a little persuasion, but be careful not to scratch the upper painted surface of the T-tops.

Now that all the parts are removed, it's a good time to paint the T-tops (if needed). We previously had the exterior of ours painted by JD's Paint and Body Shop, so we were only concerned with the underside.

A quick check of Corvette Central's C3 catalog verified that the company had all the items we needed to complete our T-tops, including the trim, the weatherstripping, and even the fasteners and hardware.

While we waited for our parts to arrive, we cleaned up the underside of the T-tops, masked them off, and painted them black to match the rest of the car's interior.

Latches and guide plates were cleaned up in the parts washer and polished with chrome polish.

The parts from Corvette Central arrived quickly, and we were impressed with their quality.

Everything was professionally packaged and show quality, making us eager to get these pieces on our car.

The new headliner pads use a molded plastic frame, which is far better than the original fiber board. All the Velcro fasteners were pre-attached.

We began reassembling the T-tops by installing our clean hardware and latches.

It's amazing how well even the original pieces clean up with a little elbow grease. If yours are too far gone, Corvette Central has replacements.

The new front moldings can be installed next. Once in position, they're simply tapped into place using a plastic hammer and held in place by friction and the other trim.

The side trim is held on by rivets, which Corvette Central includes; the weatherstrip molding is riveted on next. All of the pieces we installed fit like new, with no issues.

Our old weatherstripping was definitely shot, so we ordered new pieces from Corvette Central. These fit properly and came with the correct plastic clips to hold them in place. We suggest adding a little adhesive between the clips to prevent the seal from sagging.

Before proceeding, reinstall the T-tops in the car and make the final adjustments on the latches and plates so that the tops align and operate properly.

This is a bit of a trial-and-error process, but easy to accomplish with a little thought and effort.

Once everything is properly adjusted, tighten all the fasteners and remove the T-tops to install the headliner pad. Before installing the screws, place the T-tops back in the car and realign the headliner pad as needed to prevent chafing on adjacent areas.

While we were at it, we decided to replace the forward, rear, and center T-top panels in the interior, as ours were cracked and discolored from age. The parts were exact reproductions, with the exception of the higher-quality materials used to make them.

The new T-top parts really make the car look better from both the inside and outside.

Road noise is reduced, and the tops and side windows now close properly for a weather-tight seal. This is one of those projects that's easy to do if you have a day off and want to spend it improving your Corvette.

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